Topic: Sprint 200 Standard Equipment?

[Pete Bush]

I recently discovered that my '66 June built Metuchen 6-cylinder convertible is a Sprint version. A prior owner installed '65 quarter accent trim, but there was no evidence of patched holes from the 5-stud '66 version; indicating the original accent delete.

The air cleaner was painted with a blue top and black bottom, but when I chemically stripped it I found a chrome top and blue bottom.

I'm wondering now, what other items have been altered from their original appearance, and what was standard equipment. The little bit of research I've done indicates the following list of possible details:


Chrome top air cleaner w/ blue bottom (mine is round, but I've seen photos of some with a snorkel)
Chrome radiator cap
Chrome master cylinder cap
Chrome press-on oil filler cap
Chrome valve cover
Seat belts (my turquoise with standard aqua interior and white top has black seat belts)
Console
Wire wheels w/spinners
Color-matched pinstripe "C" with quarter accent trim delete (should I expect to find white color?)

A couple of questions: Is this list of details correct, and are there any lesser know details?

[Twilight65]

Hey Pete,
My May 66 Dearborn Sprint Air Cleaner was same as yours (no snorkel). Your list looks pretty good. Not sure about the Chrome Valve Cover my didn't have that.
Dave

[Pete Bush]

Dave,

Colin Date's Restorer's Guide indicates a chrome valve cover on page 104, but Tom Corcoran's Restoration guide makes no mention of it on page 138. Tony Kovar told me that the valve cover should be painted.

Could Sprint vehicles have been outfitted differently between the three assembly plants?

Pete

[NEFaurora]

These below never existed on Original '66 Sprints from all three plants.  I have had many a oppotunity luckily to view more than a few documented original '66 Sprints from all three plants. All three plants optioned the cars the same when it came to '66 Sprints.

The below three were NEVER found on Original '66 Sprint 200's.

Chrome master cylinder cap
Chrome press-on oil filler cap
Chrome valve cover

Chrome Press-on oil filler caps started showing up in regular production '67 Sprints I have found, but not on '66's.  The HIPO engine was the only engine '65-'66 with a Chrome oil filler cap, and it was a totally different animal. If any one of the above three are found on a '66 Sprint car, You can be sure that a previous owner put it there or purchased it over the counter somewhere.

Below is what is normally found:

Console
Wire wheels w/spinners
Chromed aircleaner with (Early to Mid May '66) snorkel or without snorkel (Mid May '66 and later cars), with either a painted base (more common), or a chromed base (less common)
Color-matched pinstripe "C" with quarter accent trim delete, colors were normally Black or White normally, Blue is super-rare, and even red was rumored to exist. (again, rare.)
Seat belts were normally standard belts color coded to the interior. The only exception is perhaps Deluxe belts, They may have been Black if dealer installed. Standard belts should match the interior color.

Tony K.

[Pete Bush]

Hey Tony,

Your comments mirror our previous discussions. I cannot account for the statements and photos in the restoration guides I mentioned above.  I guess I was curious on how the Concours community would weigh in on the subject.

I don't think we discussed it, and your current list doesn't mention it, but was the radiator cap chrome?

Contrary to urban myth, with the exception of the air cleaner then, the engine compartment was detailed exactly the same as every other 6-cylinder car?

[NEFaurora]

As the Concours Judges will tell you... Don't believe everything you read.  There are so many restoration books out there with incorrect pictures, incorrect data, and so forth. Some restoration guides were taken from "Restored" cars which is a big mistake.  The author did'nt do their homework, and most likely rushed the book out to print for it's $29.99 cover price....lol..

"Contrary to urban myth, with the exception of the air cleaner then, the engine compartment was detailed exactly the same as every other 6-cylinder car?"

Answer: Yes!

It's believed that the chrome radiator caps existed since a quite a few "supposed" original examples have been found.


Tony K.

[Pete Bush]

It's my understanding that the decal on the '66 air cleaner was the blue & white "Mustang-Powered Sprint 200".

Mr. Corcoran's book mentions on pg. 16 that an Autolite spark plug decal was used on 1964-1966 6-cylinder air cleaners. Should I see one on on a Chrome Sprint air cleaner, or just the blue & white one?

Say... you wouldn't have a copy of a sales invoice window sticker for a Sprint equipped car, would you?

Pete

[NEFaurora]

"Mr. Corcoran's book mentions on pg. 16 that an Autolite spark plug decal was used on 1964-1966 6-cylinder air cleaners. Should I see one on on a Chrome Sprint air cleaner, or just the blue & white one?"

You should always see the Blue and white "Mustang Sprint 200" decal, usually at the 6 'O 'clock position when you open the hood but have also seen it at the 9 'O 'clock position as well.  The rectangular "Autolite decal" was sporatically found on the air cleaner also.  The autolite decal was found either on the top, or on the side of the aircleaner. It really depended on the plant as to where it was applied. Different plants applied them in different places.

I do have original window stickers.  Send me an e-mail...NEFaurora@aol.com.

Tony K.

[kevin1221]

Hi....My name is Kevin and I'm new to this forum, even though I've followed you guys for a while.

I have owned a 66 Sprint Coupe for 14 years. It had been a one owner car for 30 years, prior to me buying it. It was sold new in Orlando FL, and remained there for 30 years. It has now moved 75 miles west, to Tampa. It is Wimbledon White with Aqua interior. It was built in July 66 in Dearborn.

I restored this car in the late 90s and have shown it in MCA concourse driven as well as AACA. It has won 5 national gold awards and 2 Grand National golds in MCA, (currently "retired", but considering trying for grill medallion) as well as a Senior Grand National in AACA.

My car has a chrome air cleaner without a snorkel and a blue base. During the restoration process, I was advised by an MCA Gold Card judge to use a chrome radiator cap, master cyl cap and oil filler cap. I have never lost points for these items in MCA judging. My car also has the console, wire wheel covers, and black C stripe.

My car also came with black seat belts from the factory. I did loose points for this in my first MCA show, and then I changed them to aqua from Snake Oyl. I was told the plant had probably run out of aqua belts, so they used black to keep the assembly line moving.

My car is featured in a five page article in the latest issue of Mustang Magazine (issue 6 - Jan 2010).

Tony, I'll have to get with you and provide my info for the Sprint registry.

I'm looking forward to learning a lot from all of you.

Kevin
Tampa, FL

[Pete Bush]

Hey Kevin,

Was there any evidence of the radiator, master cylinder, and oil filler caps originally being chrome? Or did you change these to appease the judge?

Kinda interesting, too, about the black seat belts. And part of my asking Tony about the window sticker. If the Sprint package automatically included the seat belts (as some research would suggest), then there would have been no need for mine to have been dealer installed. In which case only two options remain: they came from the factory that way, or someone switched them prior to my ownership.

Mine have FoMoCo tags with black camera-case buckles and stamped in the chrome backside is the Ford logo and then:
B5A
JR
1-66

My air cleaner has a 6C stamped into the base, and no apparent markings in the round (no snorkel) chrome top. If this indicates March 1966 it doesn't jive with Tony's remark about the round air cleaners beginning in May. Unless..... the same base was used with both versions.

[kevin1221]

Pete:

The master cyl cap was chrome when I got the car. The radiator cap and oil filler cap were after market and not Ford specific parts. To answer your question, I used the chrome to satisfy the judges.

In 1966, seat belts (front and rear) were standard equipment from the factory. My black belts had the Ford labels on them also. I contacted the original owner and he told me he had never changed them. I also know of another 1966 with gold and white pony interior that had black belts from the factory. Makes sense to use black instead of slowing production if the other color belts were not available. Remember, they were tying to build these as fast as they could.....probably never even thought of strict judging 40+ years later.

Kevin

[Pete Bush]

I realize it's gotta make a judge's life more difficult when variations like this pop up. But as an owner, I'd rather have the car looking as it came from the factory - even if it means taking a hit on points.  As long as I can determine the authenticity of the item in question.

Sure would be handy to have an authoritative Mustang Body of Knowledge - a written reference that evolves when new info like this pops up. You almost have the beginnings of that here, except the bits and pieces are fragmented in posts scattered here and there, and little pieces of information are tucked away in other people's heads - waiting for a question to open it up.

[CharlesTurner]

There would be no problem with the black belts at an MCA national show.  There most likely would be deductions for the chrome radiator cap and master cylinder cap, though.  MCA judging has changed quite a bit from how it was in the 90's.

[Pete Bush]

Charles,

Here's a photo of the chrome radiator cap from my car.

In the recessed area inside the words "Tighten & Remove Slowly" are Motorcraft in fine letters and opposite it RS-512A. There's also a D6 stamped in the center and 13# on one of the outside ears.

[kevin1221]

"MCA judging has changed quite a bit from how it was in the 90's."

Charles....I agree 100%. Six of my seven Golds were won between 1999 - 2002. In '02, I "retired" the car in MCA. In 2008, I decided to try and get the needed wins for the grill medallion and enter Conservator Class. I lost a few points in '08 for items that had never been an issue earlier. I'll need to review the rule book before going to Jacksonville next year and see what items I need to address. Thanks for your advise on MC cap as well as radiator cap.

Kevin